Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Erupts: Red Alert Issued Over Volcanic Ash Cloud
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a volcano located on Indonesia's Flores Island, erupted twice on May 19, 2025, sending ash clouds soaring up to 0.7 miles (1.1 km) above its peak. The Indonesian authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level amid warnings of a potentially more severe eruption. The eruption poses significant health, environmental, and aviation risks, prompting the issuance of a red alert by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) in Darwin, Australia.
Arunachal Pradesh Welcomes New Butterfly Species: Euthalia malaccana Recorded for the First Time
Arunachal Pradesh's Leparada district has added a remarkable new member to India's butterfly family with the confirmed sighting of Euthalia malaccana. Previously considered a subspecies or restricted to Southeast Asia, this butterfly species' definitive presence in India extends the known range of Euthalia malaccana in the Indo-Australian region. This discovery, verified through extensive fieldwork and photographic documentation, enriches the biodiversity record of the northeastern region and highlights the importance of citizen science in wildlife research.
May 19, 2025
Yala Glacier Declared 'Dead' in Nepal a Local Mourning on Loss
The Yala Glacier in Nepal, once a crucial site for glaciological training and cryosphere research in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), has been officially declared 'dead', marking a significant and symbolic loss in the global climate crisis. Scientists, local communities, and monks gathered in Langtang, Nepal, to hold a poignant memorial for the glacier, which has retreated dramatically over recent decades. This event highlights the severe impact of global warming on Himalayan glaciers, with profound consequences for water security and ecological stability across South Asia.
May 16, 2025
ReNew Power to Build India's Largest RE Complex in Andhra Pradesh
In a major push to India's renewable energy ambitions, ReNew Power announced the setting up of the country's largest single-site Renewable Energy (RE) complex at Bethapalle village in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. With a planned investment of Rs. 22,000 crore, the mega project was inaugurated on May 16, 2025, and will be a milestone in strengthening India's clean energy infrastructure.
This project also highlights the implementation of Andhra Pradesh's Integrated Clean Energy Policy (ICEP), introduced in October 2024.
May 15, 2025
India Launches First Cluster of CCU Test Beds to Decarbonise Cement Sector
In a landmark move to combat industrial carbon emissions, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, launched the country's first cluster of five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) test beds specifically aimed at the cement sector. This initiative marks a significant stride in India's path toward achieving its Net Zero carbon targets by 2070, uniting academia and industry under an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The cement industry is one of the top hard-to-abate sectors contributing significantly to COâ‚‚ emissions.
CCU technology enables capturing COâ‚‚ from industrial processes and transforming it into value-added products.
May 12, 2025
Scientists Discover Two New Crocodile Species
Scientists discovered two previously unknown species of crocodiles living on the island of Cozumel and the other on the atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both in Mexico.
The two new species are yet to be officially named.
The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the American crocodile and highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts.
The team analysed the genetic sequences of crocodile populations from Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro and compared them to sequences of crocodiles across the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico's Pacific coast.
Ladakh Now Home to 477 Snow Leopards: A Conservation Milestone
A study under the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) program revealed that Ladakh is home to 477 snow leopards, making it one of the regions with the highest densities of these elusive big cats globally. This revelation marks a significant milestone in wildlife conservation and positions Ladakh as a premier eco-tourism destination, showcasing the resilience of high-altitude biodiversity.
The study, released in May 2025, is the first scientifically validated estimate of snow leopard numbers in Ladakh. Conducted under the SPAI program, the study is a joint effort by the Ladakh Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India, Ministry of Environment, and Nature Conservation Foundation.
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